“You will be blessed more than all peoples. There will be none who are sterile or barren among you or among your animals” (Deuteronomy 7:14). “You will be blessed more than all peoples” – Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: The praise of a noblewoman is not when she is lauded by her relatives, but when she is lauded by her rival wives.10The midrash interprets the verse to mean “you will be blessed by all peoples.”
“There will be none who are sterile or barren” – eunuchs or sexually underdeveloped women. I have derived only regarding people, from where is this derived regarding animals? As it is written: “Or among your animals” – thus [it includes both] people and animals. From where is this derived regarding the land?
As it is written: “None shall miscarry or be barren in your land” (Exodus 23:26)11The midrash interprets this verse as referring to the land itself, indicating that all parts of the land will provide bounty. – thus [it includes] people, animals, and the land. From where is this derived regarding trees? It is as it is written: “The vine will not lose its fruit for you in the field prematurely” (Malachi 3:11).
“There will be none who are sterile or barren” – Rabbi Ḥanin ben Levi said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Your prayer will not be barren, but rather, it will ascend and bear fruit.’ Another matter, Rabbi Yonatan said: “There will be none who are sterile or barren” – from repentance. There was an incident involving Rabbi Yonatan, who was walking near the mountain of the Samaritans.12Mount Gerizim, which was considered sacred by the Samaritans (translation based on Etz Yosef).
He was riding a donkey and the animal driver was with him. A certain Samaritan joined them. When they reached Mount Gerizim, the Samaritan said to Rabbi Yonatan: ‘Rabbi, what is this? For this mountain is sacred.’13What is the significance of our having happened upon this sacred place (Matnot Kehuna).
Elsewhere, the midrash reports that Rabbi Yonatan was traveling to pray in Jerusalem and the Samaritan asked him why he would travel to Jerusalem instead of praying at Mount Gerizim (see Bereshit Rabba 32:10). Rabbi Yonatan said to him: ‘Why is it sacred?’ The Samaritan said to him: ‘Because it was not stricken in the Flood waters.’ He said to him: ‘From where do you derive this?’
He said to him: ‘Is it not written as follows: “Son of man, say to it: You are a land that has not been purified, that has not been rained upon on the day of fury”’ (Ezekiel 22:24).14The Samaritan interpreted the verse as follows: “Is yours a land that is not purified? It was not rained upon on the day of fury,” and he understood it to refer particularly to Mount Gerizim (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Yonatan said to him: ‘If so, the Holy One blessed be He should have told Noah to ascend (there), and not to craft an ark.’
He said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘He did so only to test [Noah].’ Rabbi Yonatan was silent. The animal driver said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘Allow me to say one thing to him.’ He said to him: ‘Speak.’
The animal driver said to him: ‘Is this mountain not beneath the heavens?’ The Samaritan said to him: ‘Where else, beyond the heavens?’ He said to him: ‘Is it not written: “Fifteen cubits upward the water accumulated” (Genesis 7:20), “all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered”?’ (Genesis 7:19). Rabbi Yonatan immediately dismounted the donkey and had [the driver] ride on it for four mil.
He read this verse in his regard: “Any tongue that will rise against you in judgment will be condemned” (Isaiah 54:17).15Anyone who argues against the truth of the Torah will be condemned. This verse had been fulfilled regarding the Samaritan through the donkey driver’s statement. That is, “there will be none who are sterile or barren among you or among your animals.” What is “or among your animals [uvivhemtekha]”? Among your animal drivers [uvabehamin shelkha].